Zeng Xi · A ‘Xing Shu’ Couplet

时代：近代

名称：曾熙隶书对联

作者：曾熙（公元1861年-公元1930年）

简介：

书体：隶书

Era: Modern history

Calligrapher: Xeng Xi (1861 – 1630)

Overview: Zeng Xi was a multi-talented figure in poetry, calligraphy and painting. Inspired by Zhong Yao and Wang Xi Zhi’s calligraphy, Zeng also soaked up the essence of ‘Xia Chen Bei’ (an ancient stone inscription) and ‘Zhang Hei Rǚ’ (a tablet inscription) to perfect his calligraphy. His calligraphy demonstrates a mixture of conformities and nonconformities. Zeng loved to keep the composition and alignment of his calligraphy ‘spacious’, with slightly ‘extended’ strokes. His calligraphy style is very much epigraphy driven. He took on painting seriously in his later life and became an advocate of calligraphy-imbued paintings ever since, thus earning him an illustrious reputation across the calligraphy and painting fraternity. Zeng Xi and Li Rui Qing are historically known as the ‘Nan Zeng Bei Li’ combination (literally means Zeng ruled the South while Li had the North at their feet through their calligraphy and painting prowess). Along with Li Rui Qing, Shen Zeng Zhi, Wu Chang Shuo, they formed the ‘Four Greatest Calligraphers of the Early Republic Era’. The legendary Zhang Da Qian was one of the disciples of Zeng Xi.

Calligraphy Style: Xing Shu